Here are 5 reasons you need to become a protege today
If you’ve ever wondered what it means to be a protege, we have answers to your questions. Learn more about the benefits of working with a supportive team of backrs.
You may have Googled it, but may still wonder: What is a protege, and why do I want to be one? Some young people get lucky building a support network, whether online, through family connections, or through a school network. But Backrs understands that not every young person knows where to begin searching for strategic support or how to gain the backing they need to achieve their life goals.
At Backrs, a protege is a young person who takes an active role in their personal development, identifying goals and skills they want to acquire on their life path. As a protege with Backrs you build a support network that will connect, affirm, and guide you on your journey toward success.
Here are five reasons you need to become a backr today:
What is a protege?
When a person has goals they want to fulfill but may not know how to accomplish, they seek out mentors — we call them backrs — to support them on their path toward achieving life goals. At Backrs, our proteges are high school and college students. A protege is any person who is a lifelong learner working toward short-and long-term goals with the backing of others.
As a student, you’re beginning your life and career journey. With a team of backrs on your side, you will find the support you need and want as you continue to develop new skills and gain the knowledge you need to be successful.
Our proteges are curious and empowered to set a course for their futures. They choose backrs who understand the challenges they may encounter, the steps to take, and the experiences they should have that align with their life goals.
Why should I become a protege?
As a protege, when you pursue new opportunities and goals, your backrs can listen, offer guidance, affirm your choices, and encourage you to stay focused. They do this through regular check-ins, so you can keep moving forward and achieving goals.
For example, your backrs may provide:
Resume guidance
Tips on building good credit
Help creating a LinkedIn page
Job-shadowing experience
When a protege is curious about learning, their backrs are there to provide guidance and affirmation.
Think of it like being on a sports team. Each player has something to offer, and they all understand the final goal: success. Your team of backrs will have their own individual life experiences — including achievements and challenges — to share with you. You benefit from their experience as you continue to learn and grow.
How do I get started?
When you sign up to be a protege with Backrs, you will participate in an onboarding process that includes a holistic goal-setting activity. Through onboarding, you will learn more about the Backrs community, connecting with other proteges.
During your onboarding experience you will:
Participate in a purpose workshop, learning about the skills you already have.
Explore what sparks your interest and learn more about your personal passions.
Consider how your interests, passions, and skills can be utilized now and in the future.
Receive training on how to network.
Create a personal profile.
Set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) short-and long-term goals that you want to achieve related to your education, career, health, and social life.
Once your onboarding is complete, you will choose four to six adults who will complete your team of backrs, which already includes people you know, such as parents and teachers. You get to select backrs who you feel will benefit you as you work to achieve your goals. What is essential is that all of your backrs are there to support you on your journey.
How does the Backrs’ community support proteges?
Proteges not only have their personal team of backrs, they also have a broader community of support, along with other helpful resources they can find at their fingertips.
Some of the community resources available to proteges include:
Affinity groups, which allow proteges from similar backgrounds to have open dialogue and conversations in a safe and supportive space.
Curated community resources, such as guides to budgeting or building a resume.
Speakers who can share information on careers, life skills, and motivational tools.
The tools and community support that are available to you will be beneficial as you pursue your short-and long-term goals.
How will my backrs support me?
Backrs understands a protege needs a variety of support options to be successful. We've taken a multi-pronged approach to backing our proteges.
1. You will find support on the Backrs app. Through the Backrs app you will safely interact with your team of backrs. You can share as often as you like. Interactions may look like providing results from an exam, seeking self care tips, or asking for book or video recommendations aligned with your course of study or career interest.
You drive the conversation and the way you create connections with your backrs. Our current proteges tell us that you get out of the experience what you put in. The key is that Backrs makes it easy to connect. Most interactions only take a few minutes and can be done on your phone!
2. You will expand your connections and build your network. Your individual backrs will be able to make introductions and connect you to their networks, which can support you through your education, into your career, and, potentially, over the course of your life. The social connections you make can be life changing and a key ingredient to accomplishing goals. With a larger network, you can reach out for support for entry to organizations or to gain contacts, which are critical components to success in life and a career.
3. You will receive financial backing toward your goals. Your backrs know that financial support can be crucial to achieving goals. Our eligible proteges are guaranteed a $450 stipend during the school year. Once a protege is an established part of the backr community, individual backrs can financially contribute to a protege. A protege can receive up to $150 each month from their team of backrs. Those funds can be used at the protege’s discretion, but some examples include paying for school books, tutoring, bus fare, or any other need a protege may have.
Being a protege is an investment in yourself. When you have big goals you hope to achieve, having a team of backrs who are committed to supporting you is empowering and affirming. Start your journey toward success with your own team of backrs. Learn more about what it means to be a protege with Backrs. Sign on and connect using the Backrs’ app, which can be found on the Apple or Google Play stores.
